skip to main content
Close
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Applicants
  • Job Opportunities
South West College logo
  • SWC
  • Find a course
    • Courses A-Z
    • Subject Areas
    • Higher Education
    • School Leaver (16-18)
    • 14-16 Provision
    • Online Courses
    • Part-Time
    •  
    • Adult Learners (18+)
    • Multiply Programme
    • Skill Up
    •  
    • Apprenticeships
    • Skills for Life
    • Traineeships
    • Mentor Connect
    •  
    • Higher Level Apprenticeships
    • HLA Connect Portal
    • Course Help
    • How to Apply/Enrol
    • Course Fees
    • Qualifications Explained
    •  
    • Social Inclusion
    • Going Places
    • The Rural Economic Accelerator Programme
    • Step Up
    • Workhouse Connect
    • Youthscape+
    This image (Swc 061221 057) is a link that points to the Download a Prospectus page
    View All Prospectuses

    Need Help Applying for a course?

    Contact admissions@swc.ac.uk and a member of our admissions team will get back to you
    How to Apply
    • Student Support
    • Careers Guidance
    • Career Builder
    • Health, Wellbeing & Student Welfare
    • Learning Support
    • Carers
    • Student Finance
    • Student Handbooks
    • Digital Learning
    • Parents & Carers
    • SWC Commitment to Menstrual Equity
    •  
    • Student Life
    • Meet Our Students
    • Term Dates
    • Events
    • Student Blog
    • News
    •  
    • International Study
    • Turing Scheme
    • Accommodation & Transport
    • Visas & Immigration
    • Our Location
    This image (Swc 061221 057) is a link that points to the Student Handbooks page

    Student Handbook

    Download

    Funding Support for Students

    As a student there are a several funding opportunities you can apply to for help with your course related costs.
    More Info
    • Explore Our Campuses
    • Erne Campus
    • Dungannon
    • Omagh
    • Cookstown
    • Technology & Skills
    • Automotive Centre
    • Room Hire
    •  
    • Business Services
    • Employers
    • Skills Focus
    • Innovation Vouchers
    • Business Explorer
    • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
    • InnovateUs
    •  
    • Sustainability
    • Sustainable Development
    • Carbon Literacy
    • Get Involved
    • Walking Routes
    • Corporate
    • Policies, Reports and Strategies
    • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
    • Financial Statements
    • College Development Plan
    • Privacy & Data Protection
    • Governance
    • Publication Scheme
    • Principals Welcome
    • Job Opportunities
    Play video This image (Collage made up of three photos depicting students engaged in photography, art, and IT.) is a link that points to the About page
  • Contact
  • Your List
  • SWC
      • Courses A-Z
      • Subject Areas
      • Higher Education
      • School Leaver (16-18)
      • 14-16 Provision
      • Online Courses
      • Part-Time
      • Apprenticeships
      • Skills for Life
      • Traineeships
      • Mentor Connect
      • Higher Level Apprenticeships
      • HLA Connect Portal
      • Course Help
      • How to Apply/Enrol
      • Course Fees
      • Qualifications Explained
    • Adult Learners (18+)
    • Multiply Programme
    • Skill Up
      • Social Inclusion
      • Going Places
      • The Rural Economic Accelerator Programme
      • Step Up
      • Workhouse Connect
      • Youthscape+
      • Student Support
      • Careers Guidance
      • Career Builder
      • Health, Wellbeing & Student Welfare
      • Learning Support
      • Carers
      • Student Finance
      • Student Handbooks
      • Digital Learning
      • Parents & Carers
      • SWC Commitment to Menstrual Equity
      • Student Life
      • Meet Our Students
      • Term Dates
      • Events
      • Student Blog
      • News
      • International Study
      • Turing Scheme
      • Accommodation & Transport
      • Visas & Immigration
      • Our Location
      • Explore Our Campuses
      • Erne Campus
      • Dungannon
      • Omagh
      • Cookstown
      • Technology & Skills
      • Automotive Centre
      • Room Hire
      • Business Services
      • Employers
      • Skills Focus
      • Innovation Vouchers
      • Business Explorer
      • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
      • InnovateUs
      • Sustainability
      • Sustainable Development
      • Carbon Literacy
      • Get Involved
      • Walking Routes
      • Corporate
      • Policies, Reports and Strategies
      • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
      • Financial Statements
      • College Development Plan
      • Privacy & Data Protection
      • Governance
      • Publication Scheme
      • Principals Welcome
      • Job Opportunities
  • Contact
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Applicants

Local super skilled construction apprentices compete at Skillbuild NI 2015

15 May 2015

The best local construction apprentices from across Northern Ireland tested their skills in 11 different construction trades at Skillbuild NI 2015, held at Belfast Metropolitan College’s Castlereagh campus on 29th and 30th April.
 
Skillbuild NI, run and governed by CITB NI, is held annually each spring with the top local construction apprentices competing to win coveted titles in skills areas ranging from brickwork to wall and floor tiling. The winners may then go on to represent Northern Ireland in the Skills Show UK and potentially at WorldSkills.
 
South West College (SWC) scooped 12 medals across 8 competitive disciplines and secured gold in carpentry, electrical installation, joinery and painting and decorating. Local apprentice, Kyle Weir from South West College was also awarded the title of ‘Young Apprentice of the Year.’
 
Commending the competitors on their hard work and dedication shown in their area of expertise, Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry said:
“Skills are widely accepted as a key driver in how Northern Ireland can achieve our economic goals and developing the skills and talents of our young people is central to enabling local businesses to develop and grow, to improve our collective prosperity and meet the present and future needs of our economy.
 
“This competition is an excellent opportunity for our young people in the construction sector to showcase and celebrate their high level of skills and talent, as well as reflecting the high standards of training in our further education colleges and training organisations. Skills competitions are an essential part of the pursuit of excellence in our training systems and working practices.
 
“The last few years have been an exciting and successful time for skills competitions in Northern Ireland. There has been a year on year increase in the number and range of skills competitions taking place and competitors taking part and I hope this trend continues. Northern Ireland has a proud record of success in skills competitions at regional, national and world level. I am confident once again Northern Ireland will have an excellent representation on Team UK competing at WorldSkills 2015 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in August.”
 
Skillbuild NI not only encourages trainees to improve their own skills, but provides an example of the high quality work being produced in training organisations and colleges across NI. The Skillbuild test pieces are designed to challenge the ability of apprentices, testing skills within tight timeframes and the competitors are being continuously assessed throughout the two day competition.
 
The competition is supported by the Department for Employment and Learning, Construction Employers Federation, Haldane Fisher, City and Guilds, Colleges NI and the Health and Safety Executive, along with local construction employers who sponsor each competition category.
 
Maurice Johnston, Chairman CITB NI, said:
“Skillbuild NI is the premier skills competition for construction and we recognize the accomplishments of all the competitors taking part in the 2015 finals. This competition provides the perfect platform to demonstrate the enormous talent we have in the construction industry in Northern Ireland, helping to showcase the professionalism of our brightest recruits and industry as a whole.
 
“Skillbuild NI couldn’t happen without the support of the local sponsors and we thank the local employers for investing in the future of the construction industry. The Skillbuild NI national competition is a superb event which enables participants to benchmark themselves against their fellow competitors in NI. The apprentices competing have been preparing hard for this event and credit must be given both to them and the trainers involved.”
 
Speaking about the continued success of South West College (SWC) in the Skillbuild competition arena, Maria Hackett, Head of Training Department at SWC said:
“I am truly delighted and would like to congratulate all the trainees on their magnificent achievements. The students worked extremely hard to achieve this success. I would also like to acknowledge the commitment of their lecturers who supported the students in their preparation for the competition finals.”

Share

Sign up.
Get Qualified.
Succeed.

Subscribe now for hand-picked courses, inspiration and the latest news and offers, straight to your inbox. The details provided will be used to send you relevant information about SWC.

Subscribe now for hand-picked courses, inspiration and the latest news and offers, straight to your inbox. The details provided will be used to send you relevant information about SWC.

graphics-top-left-blue
graphics-top-right-yellow

Footer

Quick Links
  • Track Your Application
  • Vacancies
  • Download a Prospectus
  • Download Our App
  • Contact Us
  • Policies, Reports and Strategies
  • Term Dates
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • SWC YouTube
  • SWC LinkedIn
  • SWC Instagram
  • SWC Facebook
  • SWC Twitter
Tel: 028 8225 0109
AccessAble Department for the Economy Advance HE
Payments powered by WorldPay
Payments powered by WorldPay
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
South West College © 2025
Green17 - Web design Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
South West College © 2025 Green17 - Web design Belfast, Northern Ireland